---"Mugenri", a world separated from reality.
The "Senri Shrine" is said to have this world completely under its thumb.
Tsubakura Enraku, having originally come from the world outside Mugenri,
works in the shrine as its new head priest.
Tsubakura currently appeared to be quite fed up with the person they were talking to.

伊代真「まったくもって、その通りなんです」

Iyozane: "Yes. Yes, that is entirely the case."

凍てついていた大地も解け、まだ桜こそ咲かぬものの、
寒の明けを実感し始めた闡裡神社の境内。
そこに今、二人の来客があった。

The frozen land had thawed, and while the cherry blossoms still had yet to bloom,
the Senri Shrine grounds were beginning to feel the reality of winter's end.
Two visitors were currently standing there.

文門「伊代真さぁ、そこはもう少し私の面子を立ててくれないかなぁ？」
伊代真「元より無い面子をどうやって立てればいいんですか？」

Fumikado: "Iyozaneee, can't you try to save face for me a little bit?"
Iyozane: "Just how am I supposed to save face when you never had any?"

Taira no Fumikado and Fujiwara no Iyozane.
These two had previously caused an incident in Mugenri.
At present, they were respectively declaring themselves to be the New Emperor and the chief adviser thereof.

 藪雨「じゃあその兵隊さん達は文門さんの言うことを聞いてくれないってこと？」

Yabusame: "So the soldiers out there aren't listening to what Fumikado-san is telling them?"

---The Senri Shrine also had another resident, bearing the title of "Honorary Priest".
This priest, Yabusame Houlen, apparently took care of all the housework such as
cooking and cleaning, rather than any actual religious duties.

そんな新米神主と雑用神主の両名は、来客の面倒くさい相談にのっていたのだった。

And so it was that the novice priest and the household-chores priest were begrudgingly listening to their guests' concerns.

Fumikado: "They're not exactly my minions, after all."
Tsubakura: "What exactly is this... organization? Union? Coalition? Of yours."
Iyozane: "We don't exactly have a name pinned down for it,
but others call it the 'Youkai Coalition', for what it's worth."
Fumikado: "Sometimes it's called the 'League' too, though."
Tsubakura: "Great, okay. The fact that it's a real shoddy organization has been noted."

うんざり度が増した玄鳥は、すでに二人の相談事など心底どうでもよくなったようだ。

Tsubakura, now even more annoyed, seemed to already completely not care about Fumikado and Iyozane's concerns.

Fumikado: "Anyway! Worst-case scenario, we might even
have to ask for help from the Senri Shrine."
Iyozane: "That's how tense things are getting, is what we're saying."
Yabusame: "Huhhh."
Tsubakura: "Guess you'd better take care, then. Lock your doors nice and tight, an' all."
Fumikado: "You're not taking this seriously at all, are you...?"
Jinbei: "That said, though... You say you're part of the same league,
but you don't know anything about the exact situation?"

---The Senri Shrine had also employed a shikigami for several generations.
No matter whether it was a cold, snowy winter night or a sweltering midsummer day,
this shikigami always wore a short, sleeveless, single-layer jinbei-haori,
so those around them called them "Jinbei".
However, neither of the head priests knew their true name.

Tsubakura: "........"
Yabusame: "Tsubakura's always got a long face!"
Kuroji: "Yes, that's why I'm asking. You sitting around bored with no trouble or anything?"
Jinbei: "We've had quite a few guests today."
Kuroji: "Ah, I see. I'm not the first arrival, then."

Kuroji Shitodo was an acquaintance that Yabusame and Tsubakura knew from the outside world,
and had been dragged along with the two of them when they came to Mugenri.
It seemed that Kuroji was still saving up funds to open a school in Mugenri's human village.
Described as such, they may have seemed like an outstanding person, but their fundraising methods appeared to be rather controversial on several fronts.

Tsubakura: "This reminds me of that one saying. How'd it go again?"
Jinbei: "'Bamboo shoots after rain'?"
Yabusame: "Ugohgohgoh..."
Kuroji: "'The more things change, the more they stay the same'?"
Tsubakura: "'Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'"
Kuroji: "Harsh, aren't you? And after I came all this way to see you."
Tsubakura: "Whenever you come calling, you bring some nuisance or another with you."
Kuroji: "...Well, I'm not sure whether it'll be a nuisance, but I have something to ask."
Tsubakura: "Ah. Got anything to do with your charges over there?"

玄鳥の視線の先には、赤い髪をして片腕を押さえながらにやけている人物と、
それを心配そうな目で見ている緑髪で青いフードをかぶった人物がいた。

Tsubakura's line of sight pointed towards a smirking, red-haired figure holding one arm,
and a green-haired figure in a blue hood who was watching the other with concern.

Kuroji: "Yeah. Hooaka got roughed up a bit. You can patch them up, right?
I mean, you're bound to have a research facility set up already."
Hooaka: "Ehh, yeah, I'm not doin' great... Took a real beating out there."
Aoji: "All three of us would've been taken out if we didn't get away when we did..."

Hooaka Shitodo and Aoji Shitodo were Kuroji's blood relatives.
Since they were in an unknown land without much means of self-sufficiency, Kuroji was taking care of the two of them.
Described as such, Kuroji may have seemed like an outstanding person, but their methods of earning living expenditures were rather controversial on several fronts.

玄鳥は頬赤の怪我の度合いをチラリと見て、一瞬真剣な顔つきになったが、すぐに元の三白眼に戻った。

Tsubakura took a glance at Hooaka's injuries. Their expression turned serious for just an instant, but their usual bored look immediately returned.

玄鳥「・・・・右腕、肘から先が失くなっただけか、その程度ならすぐ治るだろう、こっちについて来い」

Tsubakura: "...You're just missing your right arm from the elbow down? I can fix that in no time. C'mon over this way."

痛みに慣れているのか、冷や汗を流してはいるものの表情は柔らかいままの頬赤は、
玄鳥に案内されるがままに神社の中へとついて行った。

Perhaps having gotten used to the pain, Hooaka's expression was still soft despite their cold sweat.
They followed Tsubakura into the shrine.

二人が神社内に入っていくのを見送りながら、藪雨は驚いた顔を残りの鵐二人に向けた。

While watching the two of them disappear into the shrine, Yabusame turned to the remaining two Shitodos with a look of astonishment.

Kuroji was obviously hiding something, but "Yabusame was a moron," so they didn't even notice that fact.
As they continued talking, partly asking about each other's recent situations and partly just making small talk, Tsubakura and Hooaka quickly returned.

黒巫鳥「相変わらず仕事が早いな」
玄鳥「言っとくが、高くつくぞ？」
黒巫鳥「ちゃんと治ったのならな」
蒿雀「大丈夫？ アカ？」

Kuroji: "You work as fast as ever."
Tsubakura: "Just so you know, this is gonna cost you a whole lot."
Kuroji: "If you healed them properly, yes."
Aoji: "Aka? Are you okay?"

蒿雀が頬赤に容態を聞くと、ぎこちない動きをしながら頬赤は答えた。

As Aoji asked them about their condition, Hooaka answered while moving around awkwardly.

'It's Tsubakura we're dealing with, so it's equally plausible that this Hooaka could be real or a fake.'
...So Kuroji thought, but they soon realized that thinking the matter over wouldn't get them an answer any time soon,
and thus they quickly gave up on speculating.

Kuroji: "Well, I ought to at least thank you. It'd be pretty inconvenient for us if Hooaka wasn't of any use."
Tsubakura: "I'd appreciate you paying your bill more than thanks... Well, about 500 sake casks ought to do it."

Yabusame: "What the heck's that?"
Kuroji: "A rumor I heard down on the street. Sounds like a golden opportunity for an alcohol lover like you, right?"
Tsubakura: "Hmph. Kagami-wari, huh... That does sound good, I'll admit..."
Yabusame: "What do you mean?"
Tsubakura: "I mean it's a rumor that could be related to sake."
Yabusame: "Whaa?! Then that's great, right?!"
Kuroji: "Yeah, right?"
Tsubakura: "But isn't this a little strange, hm? Why aren't you going out there to investigate? Isn't this one of your beloved get-rich-quick schemes?"
Kuroji: "I can't say I appreciate your strange presumptions about me, but I suppose I'll let it slide."
Aoji: "We've got a bit of other business to take care of, so we don't have time to investigate whether the rumor's true."
Tsubakura: "Ahh, so you figured this info would come in handy to pay your medical bill? Nice way to repurpose unneeded waste."
Kuroji: "We did go to some lengths to get this information. It's only wise to make the best use of it we can, right?"
Tsubakura: "Well, whatever. I gotcha. This time's on the house."

そんな交渉と呼べるのか分からない話を済ますと、
黒巫鳥はふとジンベイの方を見た。

As they finished this negotiation-- though whether one could even call it that
was up in the air-- Kuroji glanced over at Jinbei.

黒巫鳥「ところで、キミが闡裡神社の式神か・・・初見となるな」
ジンベイ「初めましてじゃないですよねー、柿泥棒さん」

Kuroji: "So, by the way, you're the Senri Shrine's shikigami...? First time we've met."
Jinbei: "Oh, this is most certainly not our first meeting, dear persimmon bandit."

薄ら笑いを浮かべながらも、怒りの眼差しでこちらを見つめるジンベイから、
流石の黒巫鳥も目をそらしていた。

A thin smile drifted across Jinbei's face, but their eyes showed absolute fury.
Even Kuroji found themselves having to glance away.

Kuroji: "...What ever could you mean?"
Jinbei: "It's not that big of a deal, really? I've kept a very thorough count, you see,
so I'll just have you pay for them eventually, one way or another. FOR. SURE."
Kuroji: "This shikigami of yours is quite stingy, Tsubakura."

話を逸らしたいのか、黒巫鳥は急に話題を玄鳥にふった。

Kuroji hurriedly passed the ball to Tsubakura, probably wanting to change the topic.

The change that Kuroji had tossed a second ago... every single coin was standing on its edge, not landing on either heads nor tails.
As they watched the coins slowly continue rolling without falling over, Tsubakura thought:

あいつ、くだらねぇ隠し芸を身につけたなぁ・・・

Wow, they sure picked up some lame party trick...

っと、消極的にだが黒巫鳥を賞賛した。

...half-heartedly praising Kuroji.

 ―――だが、その光景を誰よりも驚いて見ていたのはジンベイだった。

---However, the one who was most surprised by this sight was Jinbei.

そしてジンベイが驚いている理由は、他の二人とは違っていた。

And Jinbei was surprised for a far different reason than the other two.

ジンベイ「そうですか・・・そろそろ頃合だとは思ってましたが・・・・」

Jinbe: "I see... I did think it'd be about time..."

そう呟きながら、ジンベイは音も立てずに神社の中へ消えて言った。

As Jinbei muttered to themself, they disappeared into the depths of the shrine without a sound.

Aoji: "Huh? But I thought we weren't gonna go out very far because it's dangerous today?"
Hooaka: "Looks like some kind of mock war is startin' up around here, yeah."
Kuroji: "The war games are nothing to worry about. The real problem is elsewhere."
Aoji: "So they really are planning to..."

蒿雀が"あいつ"っという人称代名詞を使ったとき、黒巫鳥、頬赤両名の顔が少し曇った。

Kuroji and Hooaka's expressions both clouded, for they knew exactly who Aoji was referring to.

Kuroji: "Well, if Tsubakura makes any move, they'll be lured over that way."
Hooaka: "Which is why you went and goaded Tsubakura, right?"
Kuroji: "Those two are about the only ones who can stand up to them, after all."
Aoji: "Hrrm, I wonder... Are you sure it'll be okay...?"

不安かつ心配する蒿雀をよそに、黒巫鳥は自分の話を進めた。

Kuroji continued their own line of conversation, regardless of Aoji's unease.

Kuroji: "Regardless, we'll just head out to get that treasure while making sure not to run into them again."
Hooaka: "So we'll be committing our usual villainy, then!"
Aoji: "Welp, time to pile on yet more crimes..."
Kuroji: "The true value of which is demonstrated through repetition, much the same as history."

黒巫鳥の自己正当化が本気でないことは十分に理解しつつも、蒿雀は言わずにはいられなかった。

While they understood that Kuroji wasn't honestly trying to justify their actions, Aoji couldn't help but comment.

Tsubakura: "They say 'no bird fouls a nest it soon leaves'... but that's totally bogus, right."
Yabusame: "They fouled this place right up~!"
Tsubakura: "Isn't it because of people like them that it's been so uneasy around here lately?"
Yabusame: "You mean it's all Kuroji-san's fault?!"
Tsubakura: "Might be good to assume they've got at least some hand in it, yeah."

本気で言っているのか分からないが、玄鳥は相変わらずやる気のない顔をしていた。

While one couldn't tell if they were being serious, Tsubakura's expression was as bored as usual.

シオン「シオンちゃんとうじょー！」
玄鳥「おぅぶ！」

Shion: "SHION-CHAN APPEEEARS!"
Tsubakura: "Oof!"

突然後頭部に重い物体が飛びかかってきて、危うく吹っ飛ばされそうになった玄鳥だったが、
何とか縁側からは落ちずに踏ん張っていた。

Tsubakura was nearly sent flying as something heavy slammed into the back of their head,
but they just barely managed to keep their footing without falling off the porch.

The child that the two called "Shion" was a conglomerate of souls created in a previous incident.
They ate people's souls like food, so they were kept under control in the shrine to prevent an outbreak of victims.
Normally, they were sealed so that they couldn't move away from the depths of the shrine, and should've been unable to come to the veranda.

ジンベイ「私が封印を緩めました」
玄鳥「・・・なしてそんな面倒くさいことを？」

Jinbei: "I loosened their seal."
Tsubakura: "...And why would you do something so troublesome?"

玄鳥の帽子にしがみつくシオンの体重を首だけ支えながら、玄鳥は何とか体勢を元にもどした。

Despite using their head to support the entire weight of Shion, who was clinging to their hat, Tsubakura managed to straighten back up.

Jinbei: "Right now, it'd be best to travel in large groups if possible, so Shion-san is indispensable."
Tsubakura: "And may I inquire as to when we said we'd be heading outside today?"
Jinbei: "Going outside and fighting in a war or something once in a while would be good for your health. Right, Tsubakura-san?"
Shion: "Tsubakura's a shut-iiin!"
Tsubakura: "I'd really rather not hear that from someone under house arrest."

頭の上でシオンがゆらゆらと揺れる度にそれに追従して頭がゆらゆら揺らされている玄鳥が反論した。

Tsubakura argued back, waving their head back and forth in time with Shion floating overhead.

Jinbei: "In addition... it seems that something rather dangerous is going on, so I'd like you to do something about it."
Tsubakura: "Hmmm? And may I ask as to whatever this dangerous thing could be?"
Jinbei: "Well, if you walk around over there, you'll probably see it."

なんていい加減な指示を出すんだこのガキは・・・・・
っと、おそらく年上である式神に対して、玄鳥はそんな目をむけていた。

Ugh, god, can this kid's directions get any more vague...?
---So Tsubakura thought as they glowered at the shikigami (who was probably many years their senior).

Tsubakura: "And may I be so bold as to presume that since Shion's coming with us, whatever's happening is important enough to justify leaving the shrine empty?"
Jinbei: "At the very least, you shouldn't let your guard down this time."
Yabusame: "I'm so excited~!"
Shion: "This is the first time we've gone for a walk in a while!"
Tsubakura: "...I've got nothing but bad feelings about this."

闡裡神社神主、戦地に向かってようやくの出陣であった。

And so the priests of the Senri Shrine finally depart for the battlefield.

Sukune: "Ooh, then how's about we challenge 'em to a cook-off~? I'm real proud of my skills, gyah!"
Sese: "Or, even better! We could find the treasure before they do... that'd really make 'em mad, right?"
Sukune: "That's perfect! You've got a real good brain in that skull, Sese."
Sese: "But with just you and Sese, it'd be pretty scary out there..."
Sukune: "Mmm... that's true, nyah."

解決策が見つからないまま、妖怪二人は身を隠しながらくすぶっているようだった。

The two youkai continued fuming, unable to find a solution for the time being.

Tenkai Zuifeng was the right-hand man of the previous head priest, Tsurubami Senri.
They were a barrier master currently working for a barrier-building company, and were acquainted with both Yabusame and Tsubakura.
Tenkai had some business with the two priests, but they had both been chased out by Jinbei already.

ジンベイ「・・・おや～、久しぶりですね天堺の糞ガキ、相変わらず結界の扱いが下手糞だと聞いてますよぉ」

Jinbei: "...Oh my, if it isn't that brat Tenkai! It's been a while. I hear that you've been handling the Barrier as crappily as ever~."

天堺を確認するなり、縁側に座っていたジンベイは悪っぽい顔でニヤけた。

Jinbei, sitting on the veranda, grinned mischievously as they registered Tenkai's presence.

Tenkai: "Venom right off the bat! As charming as ever, I must say. That's Senri for you."
Jinbei: "I thought you wouldn't have any business here, now that Master Tsurubami is no longer with us?"
Tenkai: "Well, it seems like that hasn't been the case as of late."
Jinbei: "Ah."
Tenkai: "I wanted to talk and share souvenirs with those two... but if they're out, oh well."
Jinbei: "...Have you, by any chance, taken an interest in the two of them?"
Tenkai: "It's not anything like that... wait, huh?"

---Tenkai broke off their sentence, as they had noticed something strange in their field of view.
Beneath the veranda where Jinbei sat, right around Jinbei's feet,
there were four points of light wriggling in the darkness.

Obeying Newton's equation of motion, the surprised barrier builder flew backwards with the two youkai.
Thanks to their center of gravity being suddenly pulled backwards, they lost their footing,
but instead of slamming to the ground, they were dragged through the air by the two stragglers on their arms,
flying far away from the veranda... and eventually the shrine as a whole.

天堺「ちょ、ちょっと、なぁんなんだぁぁぁあ！！？」

Tenkai: "Hey, HEY, WOAH, WHY ARE YOOOOU---?!?"

天堺の疑問の叫び声に対する返答は「お前強い、手伝え」「手伝うにゃ」
っといった要領の得ない答えだった。

Tenkai's desperately shouting was only answered with nonsensical cries
of "You're strong! Help us!" and "You're gonna help us, nyah!".

―――かくして、神社から引きずり出されていく天堺を遠方に見遣りながら、
ジンベイは茶を一口啜り、ため息を吐いた。

---Thus did Jinbei watch from the shrine as Tenkai was dragged far away.
They had a sip of tea, and sighed.

They then glanced at the ground right in front of them, where a single paper-wrapped box was sitting.
It appeared to be the souvenir that Tenkai had brought over.
Most likely the manju they mentioned, with the thin skins.